Pekin sails by Montezuma 41-0

By Andy Hallman, Ledger news editor | Sep 12, 2017

Photo by: PHOTOS COURTESY OF KEVIN ROHRA Montezuma defender leaves his feet attempting to tackle Pekin’s Monico Requena (22) Friday night in Packwood. That was the kind of effort it took to bring down the fleet of foot ball carrier, who rushed for three touchdowns.

PACKWOOD — The Panther football team has been steamrolling opponents this fall, and on Friday the team pitched its first shutout of the year in a 41-0 thumping of Montezuma at home. The win improved Pekin’s record to a perfect 4-0.

Running back Monico Requena has been a force of nature, and that continued against the visiting Braves. Requena got the scoring started with a 1-yard run in the first quarter. Keaton Baayen followed with a 30-yard run for the Panthers’ second score.

Requena ran it in from 22 yards out in the second. Torell Washington caught a 25-yard pass from Caleb Comstock to make the score 28-0 just before halftime.

Requena added a 6-yard touchdown run in the third, and Dayne Eckley ran one in for good measure from 40 yards out in the fourth.

Comstock completed six of his 10 passes for 117 yards, the longest going for 39 yards to Chandler Eckley. Requena caught a pass for 24 yards, and Levi Long caught two for 20 yards.

Connor Reed led the team in tackles with three. Zach Hammes, Skyler Juhl and Drake Harbison each had two.

Requena returned two punts for an average of 14 yards. Chandler Eckley returned one for 15 yards.

Levi Rohr made five point-after attempts.

Pekin has played three games in front of its hometown fans, but it will soon be tested in some hostile environments. Three of the team’s next four games will be on the road, beginning with a date with North Mahaska Friday in New Sharon. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.